Greater Celandine
Greater Celandine Chelidonium majus (Papaveraceae) HEIGHT to 80cm
Tall, brittle-stemmed perennial. Found in hedgerows and along woodland rides. FLOWERS 2–3cm across and comprising 4 non-overlapping bright yellow petals (Apr–Oct). FRUITS Narrow capsules that split from below when ripe. LEAVES Grey-green, pinnately divided. STATUS Native but also naturalised.
Fruit
Barberry
Barberry Berberis vulgaris (Berberidaceae)
Small, deciduous shrub with grooved twigs and 3-forked prickles. Found in hedgerows and scrub, mainly on calcareous soils. FLOWERS Small, yellow; in hanging clusters (May–June). FRUITS Ovoid, reddish berries. LEAVES Sharp-toothed, oval; borne in tufts from axils of prickles. STATUS Scarce native; also naturalised.
Bush, Robin
Tall Rocket
Tall Rocket Sisymbrium altissimum (Brassicaceae)
Upright annual of waste ground; hairless above but hairy below. FLOWERS 1cm across, yellow petals, twice the length of sepals (June–Aug). FRUITS Slender, narrow and up to 10cm long. LEAVES Have very narrow lobes. STATUS Introduced but established in S and E England. Eastern Rocket S. orientale is similar but with smaller flowers and divided leaves that are spear-shaped overall. Waste ground, in S.
Bush, Robin
False London-rocket
False London-rocket Sisymbrium loeselii (Brassicaceae)
Straggly, upright annual with bristly hairy lower stems. Found on waste ground. FLOWERS 4–6mm across, with 4 yellow petals twice as long as the sepals (June– Aug). FRUITS Pods 2–4cm long that do not overtop the flowers. LEAVES Deeply pinnately lobed. STATUS Casual in S; sometimes naturalised, mainly in London. London Rocket S. irio is similar but hairless. Petals equal to, or slightly longer than, sepals (Jun–Aug); slender pods overtop flowers. Wasteground, mainly London and Dublin.
Hedge Mustard
Hedge Mustard
Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium officinale (Brassicaceae) HEIGHT to 90cm
Tough, upright annual or biennial of waste ground and disturbed soil. FLOWERS 3mm across with 4 yellow petals; in terminal clusters (May–Oct). FRUITS Cylindrical, 1–2cm long, pressed close to the stem. LEAVES Variable: lower leaves deeply divided, stem leaves narrow. STATUS Widespread and common throughout.
Flixweed
Flixweed
Flixweed Descurainia sophia (Brassicaceae)
Much-divided, bushy, hairy annual found on waste and bare ground, usually on sandy soils. FLOWERS 3mm across, with 4 pale yellow petals equal to the sepals; in terminal clusters (June–Aug). FRUITS Slender, cylindrical pods up to 4cm long. LEAVES Grey-green, finely divided. STATUS Widespread but distinctly local.
Bush, Robin
Treacle-mustard
Treacle-mustard Erysimum cheiranthoides (Brassicaceae)
Slender, upright annual with angled stems. Found on waste ground and arable field margins. FLOWERS 6–10mm across, with 4 yellow petals longer than the sepals; in terminal clusters (June–Sep). FRUITS 25mm long, slender. LEAVES Shallowly lobed, narrow. STATUS Introduced and naturalised.
Janes, Ernie
Wallflower
Wallflower Erysimum cheiri HEIGHT to 60cm
Showy perennial with a woody-based stem and branched hairs. Associated with cliffs and old walls. FLOWERS 2–3cm across with 4 orange-yellow petals; in terminal clusters (Mar–June). FRUITS Flattened,
